MABA Alpaca Celebration: Maryland Alpaca Breeders Association

10:00 AM Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

“Tips for Preparing Your Fleece for a Spin-Off Competition” (Kathy Kenworthy)
Kathy Kenworthy will share her experience as a spin-off judge with the audience in this informative seminar presentation. Learn what the judges are looking for, and how to enhance the presentation of your treasured fleece when entering a spin-off competition.

2:00 PM Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

Panel Discussion: Ready for Alpacas?
Part I – “Ways to Own Alpacas” – Mary Clark
Part II – “Building Your Alpaca Farm” – Rick Stumpf
Part III – “Breeder as a Jack of All Trades” – Scott Gove

Part I of Panel Discussion “Ways to Own Alpacas ” (Mary Clark)
Many people would love to have alpacas in their life but do not have a traditional farm set-up. Mary Clark will discuss various avenues to alpaca ownership, from agisting animals on an existing alpaca farm, to owning fiber animals and your own yarn boutique, to having a stud-farm and mobile breeding business. Come learn about the many opportunities to get alpacas into your life.

Part II of Panel Discussion “Building Your Alpaca Farm ” (Rick Stumpf)
This seminar by Rick Stumpf is for the new and existing alpaca farm owner. Topics touched on will include the shelters, fencing, and utilities needed in the day to day activities of alpaca farming that provide a safe and convenient environment for both alpacas and their human caretakers. If time permits, Rick will expand on these basic concepts, and will briefly discuss cost versus value of various high tech farm amenities.

Part III of Panel Discussion “Breeder as a Jack of All Trades ” (Scott Gove)
Alpaca breeders come from all walks of life. Few new breeders have farm or animal husbandry experience. Scott Gove will round out the panel discussion by pointing out the many aspects of alpaca ownership that a new alpaca breeder will need to keep in mind and learn more about, in order to keep their alpacas healthy and safe.

9:00 AM Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

"From Raw Fleece to Final Product" (Jackie Mathiason)
Several years ago, faced with abundant fleece, Jackie Mathiason began processing the fiber from her alpacas into award winning products. Her hats and scarves have consistently been awarded first and second place in fiber art shows, such as MAPACA and VAOBA. During her seminar presentation, Jackie will share with her audience a portion of her vast knowledge and experience in working with alpaca fiber.

1:00 PM Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

“Evaluating Shorn Suri’s” (Patti Anderson)
We all love the beautiful long and free-flowing fleeces of unshorn Suris, and most breeders are fairly comfortable evaluating an unshorn Suri for show or breeding. However, shearing your Suris annually is critical to their health, so, how do you evaluate the 2nd, 3rd, 4th… fleeces for making breeding decisions when they look very different from the 1st fleece? Come and learn to recognize how the various lock structures appear on virgin fleece (1st fleece), and how the fiber regrows after subsequent shearings. This seminar will discuss other factors to be taken into consideration, such as the age of the alpaca (from cria through aged adult), environment, nutrition, and care of the fleece with daily management practices. There will be several fleeces available for “hands-on” learning, and potentially “live alpaca” shorn fleece examples.

Speaker Bios

Patti Anderson
Wild Rose Suri Ranch
Havre de Grace, Maryland

Patti and her husband, Alan, have owned and operated Wild Rose Suri Ranch since 1995. They have specialized in breeding top quality Suris of traceable Peruvian lineage and have won many championships and awards in the show ring during their 14 years in the industry. Patti has served as VP on the MAPACA BOD for 2 years, as President of the MABA BOD, and member of the AOBA Show Committee. Wild Rose Suri Ranch is now the home of over 100 Peruvian Suri alpacas of all colors, and focuses on the production of high luster breeding stock. Five years ago, Patti traded her 25 years as a Global Business Director in the chemical industry for the full-time excitement and challenge of the alpaca industry. As a fervent believer in the alpaca fiber industry, she has participated in and promoted alpaca fleece shows. Patti was instrumental in proposing and gaining support for the “Previously Shorn” yearling Suri halter class now at all the AOBA Shows which promotes the annual shearing of alpacas for health and better conforms to the needs of fiber processing. Patti has taught numerous seminars on alpaca care, selection, and fiber, including the latest seminars focusing exclusively on the Suri: “The Suri Advantage – A Seminar for New Buyers and Breeders” and “Evaluating Shorn Suris”.

Mary Clark
Alpacas of Maryland
Westminster, Maryland

Mary and Barry Clark of Alpacas of Maryland started their alpaca venture six years ago by boarding at other farms while their herd grew. During that time they attended many alpaca shows and are proud to have many blue ribbon winners and champion alpacas. Two years ago, they moved their Peruvian and Accoyo Huacaya alpacas -- now numbering 30, and three guard llamas -- to their peaceful farm in Westminster and are enjoying the benefits of the alpaca lifestyle. The Clarks run seminars for potential new alpaca owners, board animals they sell, and consult and mentor many people new to alpacas.

C. Scott Gove
Sandhill Alpacas, Inc.
New Market, Maryland

Scott grew up on a beef and sheep farm, earned a BS in Biology and MS in Management and, after serving as a Navy Salvage Officer, spent many years in and around the construction and real estate industries. He is currently an Associate Broker with Frederick Land Company, specializing in farms and lots.
Scott and his wife, Betsy, started Sandhill Alpacas in 1998 and have grown their Huacaya herd to over 35 alpacas. They started the 4H Alpaca Project in Frederick County in 2002 and have been active members of MABA, MAPACA, AOBA and other Alpaca marketing groups and organizations.

Kathy Kenworthy (MABA 2009 Spin Off Judge)
Almosta Ranch Alpacas
Berks County, Pennsylvania

Kathy has owned alpacas since 2003 after fulfilling a dream of wanting to learn to spin. She also raises French and Satin Angoras for fiber. Her Huacaya alpaca herd, Almosta Ranch Alpacas, now numbers around 40 including some jointly owned herdsires. In the early years of owning alpacas, she attended as many alpaca and fiber related seminars as time allowed. As a Spin Off Judge for the AOBA National Conventions, Kathy enjoys evaluating and spinning fleeces from all over the country. She has been a Spin Off Judge for two years.

Jackie Mathiason
Alpaca Road LLC
Ridgely, Maryland

Jackie Mathiason started her Alpaca Road LLC herd with two pregnant alpacas. Unable to decide between Huacayas or Suris she purchased one of each. Jackie's business is based on all aspects of raising alpacas from making tough breeding decisions to producing wearable fiber arts. When considering the acquisition of new animals she focuses on the quality of the fiber and not on the country of origin. In addition to her online store, she markets her products as well as her animals at various Fiber Festivals. She truly lives the answer to the question: What do I do with all this fleece? and regularly shares her enthusiasm for spinning, felting, and weaving with other fiber artists. In addition to caring for the alpacas and creating one of a kind alpaca products, Jackie also holds down a full time job. She is a Program Manager that ensures quality for the Federal government's financial system of record. Commuting 75 miles each way, she finds comfort in coming home to the alpacas and the fiber that they produce.

Rick Stumpf
Prairie Lake Alpacas
Smithsburg, Maryland

For Rick and Kathy Stumpf, Prairie Lake Alpacas became a reality in 1998 with the purchase of their first alpacas. Their herd has grown to over 35 suri alpacas and their interest in an American alpaca fiber industry led them to forming a company that purchases American alpaca fiber and commercially processes alpaca blankets and throws in the United States. In addition to Prairie Lake Alpacas, the Stumpfs have owned Dixie Electric, Inc. for 30 years, a company that provides electrical and underground utility services. Rick takes great pleasure in providing electrical services for many alpaca farms. Dixie Electric specializes in products and installations designed to ease the minds and workloads of alpaca breeders, both large and small.